History
The Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport was created in 1936 to do away with the city's deplorable housing conditions. By 1945, 5,000 units were controlled by the Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport including the sixth largest housing complex in the United States initially called Yellow Mill Village and later Father Panik Village.
In the late 1970s, Bridgeport's economy began declining, resulting in the flight of the more stable families to other communities and housing types. With this change came noted problems with the management of the Authority, landing it on the government's "Troubled List." This distinction resulted with the agency's operation being taken over by the private management firm known as Quadel Belson. Under this arrangement, Clarence H. Craig Jr. was brought in to oversee operations and the Authority's activities on a daily basis, while carefully assembling a team of professionals to assist him in returning the Authority back to sound financial footing and property management practices.
Timeline
| 1933 |
The Nation's banking system collapses as millions of panicky depositors try to withdraw savings. Approximately 14 million Americans are unemployed, and business nearly ground to a halt. |
1936 |
Jasper McLevy creates the Bridgeport Housing Authority. Reverend Stephen Panik who championed the cause of public housing became the BHA's first Chairman. |
| 1939 |
Ground breaking for Yellow Mill Village (later renamed Father Panik Village), the first public housing complex in New England and the sixth largest in the United States. |
| 1940 |
Ground breaking for Marina Village and Marina Apartments. |
| 1945 |
BHA assumes control of nearly 5,000 housing units from Stratford and Fairfield including housing for defense workers in Bridgeport. |
| 1950 |
Ground Breaking for Phineas Taylor (PT) Barnum Apartments and Charles F. Greene Homes. |
| 1959 |
Fireside Apartments is completed. |
| 1968 |
Harborview Towers is completed. |
| 1982 |
Bridgeport Housing Authority projects are declared deplorable by Federal Officials. Eventually the government places the Authority on the "Troubled List". |
| 1984 |
Quadel Belson, a private firm takes control of the Authority. |
| 1987 |
Quadel Belson leaves and Clarence H. Craig, Jr. stays on to become the Executive Director. |
| 1988 |
Scattered site program begins to relocate residents of Father Panik Village which is scheduled to be demolished. |
| 1990 |
Full scale renovations of many of the BHA complexes are begun or are on the drawing board. |
| 1991 |
BHA is taken off of the "Troubled List". Ribbon Cutting for the renovations of Charles F. Greene Homes. BHA turns its attention toward providing self-sufficiency training and empowerment programs. |
| 1994 |
Police Officer Sector Terminal opens at Gary Crooks Center. |
| 1995 |
Bridgeport Housing Authority officially takes ownership of Pequonnock Apartments and Trumbull Gardens formally run by the Connecticut Housing Authority. |
|
